One is Chinese-American, exasperated by delays in government aid since the riots destroyed his small Los Angeles shopping center. The other is Korean-American, concerned for his safety even if he rebuilds his Compton grocery store. Joseph T. Kung and Jin H. Lee probably never would have met, if not for the riots. But Sunday they stood side by side seeking signatures on a petition calling for better government programs to aid riot victims.

One is Chinese-American, exasperated by delays in government aid since the riots destroyed his small Los Angeles shopping center. The other is Korean-American, concerned for his safety even if he rebuilds his Compton grocery store. Joseph T. Kung and Jin H. Lee probably never would have met, if not for the riots. But Sunday they stood side by side seeking signatures on a petition calling for better government programs to aid riot victims.

A meeting Thursday between Mayor Tom Bradley and Korean-American merchants, prompted by 13 days of demonstrations outside City Hall, ended with assurances city officials will take more steps to assist the merchants in recovering from losses. "I think Mayor Bradley is our friend," said Jin H. Lee, administrator of the Korean-American riot victims group that has staged the daily, drum-banging demonstrations.

Civil rights lawyers Monday made good on their promise to file claims against the city on behalf of nearly 1,800 people who say they were injured or had property damaged in the April-May rioting. The claims--which are expected to be rejected by the city attorney's office--ensure that the claimants will be able to file lawsuits in state courts if they choose to.

Korean-American merchants were pelted with ink bottles, thumbtacks and other office supplies tossed out of City Hall windows Tuesday as they protested for a 17th day over the way government officials have treated them since the riots. Seven people were slightly injured, according to Los Angeles police, including a 3-year-old child who was hit in the head by a tack. Several adults were cut when small glass bottles of red, black and white ink slammed against the pavement and shattered.

Of the thousands of riot victims who picked up applications for Small Business Administration loans, barely more than 10% have applied for help--and only one in four applicants have been approved for assistance, officials said Friday.

The towers loom ahead as you drive down Woodward Avenue, rising out of the morning haze like the Rockies from the Plains. It is a thrilling sight; in places like this, Americans created the skyscraper city. But as you drive closer you see windows dark or boarded or broken, and sooty facades and deserted doorways. Suddenly, you are not approaching a skyscraper city. You are whistling past a skyscraper graveyard.

The towers loom ahead as you drive down Woodward Avenue, rising out of the morning haze like the Rockies from the Plains. It is a thrilling sight; in places like this, Americans created the skyscraper city. But as you drive closer you see windows dark or boarded or broken, and sooty facades and deserted doorways. Suddenly, you are not approaching a skyscraper city. You are whistling past a skyscraper graveyard.